Holiday fun at Jeff Coombs Memorial Foundation party for military families

Benjamin Paulin The Patriot Ledger @BPaulin_Ledger

Saturday

Dec 19, 2015 at 3:52 PMDec 20, 2015 at 8:33 AM

WEST BRIDGEWATER - At Erin Vasselian’s family dinner table in Abington on Christmas, there will be an empty place setting for her husband, Daniel Vasselian, a Marine who was killed in combat in Afghanistan on Dec. 23, 2013.

For Brianna Maguire of Brockton, this Christmas will be the first without her father, who took his own life in February after battling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder he suffered from serving in the Army for four tours in Iraq.

For many military families who have lost loved ones to war or have family members serving overseas, the holiday season can often be the toughest time of year.

“Christmas, the holidays, it’s a really hard time for people, Gold Star families especially, because you’re missing that loved one who you wish was home,” Vasselian, 29, said.

Both Vasselian and Maguire were in good spirits on Saturday, however, as they attended the 9th annual Holiday Party for Military Families put on by the Jeff Coombs Foundation.

Hundreds of family members of Massachusetts servicemen and servicewomen gathered at the Charlie Horse restaurant in West Bridgewater for the light-hearted holiday event. Family members of deployed soldiers, injured and fallen soldiers post 9/11 and active and reserve military personnel were on hand.

“It’s just amazing to see all of families come together because we’re not close. Everyone lives across Massachusetts, so it’s events like these that brings everyone together and lets us bond in that way,” Vasselian said.

The party was the first military event Maguire has attended since her father’s death on Feb. 8.

“When he was alive we used to go to events like this with him. But this is my first time doing something like this without him,” said Maguire, 21, who grew up in Holbrook. “It’s really nice, it means a lot. This is our first Christmas without him. It’s good to have a support system of people who know what you’ve been through.”

A function room at the restaurant and arcade on Route 106 was filled with activities for children, including caricature artists, fingernail painting and balloon animals. Santa Claus and costumed characters Frosty the Snowman and Mickey and Minnie Mouse posed for pictures with the kids.

Former New England Patriots players Joe Andruzzi, Steve Nelson, Bill Matthews and Derwin Williams signed autographs and took pictures with fans and kids.

Along a wall in the large room were collages with hundreds of photos of servicemen and servicewomen. On a table was the name of each soldier from Massachusetts that has died in combat since 9/11.

Christie Coombs of Abington, is the wife of Jeff Coombs, who was on board American Airlines Flight 11 and died during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. She started the Jeff Coombs Memorial Foundation after his death as a way to cope with her loss.

“It’s our way of being able to say thank you to the military families for their service and for those that have lost somebody for their sacrifice. So many of them signed on in the military because of what happened to Jeff and 3,000 other people (on 9/11). So I can’t help but feel a little responsible for what they’re going through,” Coombs said tearing up. “So this was a way for us, in Jeff’s name, to say thank you and we understand what you’re going through with your loss, whether it’s temporary or permanent.”

The event was sponsored by Massachusetts Fallen Heroes and the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund.

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